Barnfield staff endure challenging conditions for Pendleside Hospice

Date: 18.08.11

On the 5th June, James Mc Donough, Gary Dawson, Dale Lee and Dougie Aspden set off on one of England’s most difficult mountain challenges, “The English 3000’s Challenge”.  Formerly known as the Rambler’s Marathon, which is no longer an organised event due to its difficulty.

There used to be no more than 100 people each year prepared to take on the challenge, with a failure rate of 30%.

The course takes on the four highest mountains in the Lake District, Skidaw, the two Ska Fells and Helvelin ,which are all over 3000 feet in height, (plus “High Rise” which doesn’t count because its only 2500 feet!!)

The endurance task covers 50 miles in total, all of which had to be completed in under 24 hours.

A combined trek of 11,500 feet over 50 miles is not easy even in the best conditions, unfortunately the weather conditions were atrocious, with 24 hours of torrential rain turning mountain streams into raging torrents with visibility on Ska Fell no more than 20 metres at best.

Even given all the adverse conditions the course was completed in a time of 23 hours 8 minutes, concluding at the clock in Keswick Centre. In total the team raised £1605.80 which has been donated to Pendleside Hospice for their continuing caring for people suffering from cancer.

Pendleside Hospice commented “We would like to take the opportunity to thank all the operatives from Barnfield Construction on site at Lob Lane Mill, Brierfield, especially Site Manager for his efforts in co-ordinating sponsorship from sub-contractors, for their generous contributions, together with staff at Transfloor at Shadsworth, Senator at Haslingdon and Dean Thompson.

We would also like to thank Barnfield Construction for their donation and assistance in sponsoring the event, together with sub-contractors currently working on the Lob Lane Mill development namely, Bradley Demolition, Red Rose Dry Lining, CWR Scaffolding, JTS Staircases.” ”